Improvement in head-cushions to



UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. RICHARDS, OF NEVTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT EN HEA-CUSHIONS TO |l-"REl/'EENH' SUNSTROKE.

Sperilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,7017, dated June 24,18":2.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United Statesof America` and a resident of Newton, in the county of Middlesex andState of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Anti-SunstrokeCushion; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully described in thefollowing specification, and represented in the accompanying drawings,of which- Figure l is a side View, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section ol'it.

It is intended that the said cushion shall be worn on the top of thehead of a person, and either in his hat or cap, or by being bound orotherwise fixed on thehead. Its purpose is to prevent what is termedsunstrokej7 and for the use of persons whose occupations or necessitiesrequire exposure to the sun in either tropical or temperate climateshaving very warm weather. My said invention is of great value, it beingeffectual for the obj eetfor which it is intended.

The nature of my invention consists in a layer or stratum' of anonconductor of heat arranged and combined with one which is a retaineror absorbent of moisture, the whole being combined with or held togetherby layers of cloth or other material, and so as to constitute a cushionto be worn on the head.

In carrying out my invention I employ a cushioucase, A, containing twochambers or compartments, a b, separated from one another by a linenpartition, c. One side, d, of the cushion I make of liannel, and theother, e, I make of linen cloth. Between the two layers c c oflinen, orin the compartment b, I place a stuffing, B, of sponge or otherequivalent liquid-absorbent. The compartment a, I stuff or fill withcork C in small pieces. The edges ofthe layers oi'lihen and flannel areto be sewed or connected together and properly hound. The whole may bequilted, like an ordinary cushion. Zhen applied to the top of the headof a person, the layer e of linen is to be next to the same. This bringsthe cork uppermost, 0r over the sponge, the latter being nearer thehead.

If before applying the cushion to the head it be dipped into cold waterand subsequently squeezed, so as to express a large part of the waterabsorbed by it, we shall find, after it may have been placed on thehead, that the iiannel and cork will be very slow conductors of the heatof the rays of the sun when suffered to fall upon them or on the annel,or on the top of the hat or cap in which they may be. The natural heatof the head will create a slow evaporation of the moisture of thesponge. This evaporation not only tends to abstract heat from the head,but to remove more or less of what may accumulate in the cork.

The refrigerating effects of the cushion on the tissues and brain oft-he head of a person during very warmand sunny weather will tend topreserve them in their normal condition, and thus obviate any danger ofsunstroke.

These refrigerating-cushions I specially in tend for the use of personsbelonging either to the army or navy. They may, however, be employed toexcellent advantage by any others when exposed to the rays of the sun.

I claim- A head-protecting cushion made and to be used substantially inmanner and for the purpose as hereinbefore specified.

VM. H. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

It. I-I. `EDDY, F. I. HALE, Jr.

